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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Thankful
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 7 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 39 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: RCA
Release Date: 15 April 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Pop
Summary
Yes, well, she does have a lot to be thankful for, doesn't she. This hit debut album is a direct result of the singer's victory on the first installment of Fox TV's "American Idol" talent competition in 2002. Judging from the album's credits, just about every musician and producer in the industry seemingly worked on the disc, although Clarkson did manage to co-write four out of the dozen songs.
Also By This Artist: All I Ever Wanted My December
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Her voice, at times raspy, at times beautifully sultry, is a potent reminder of why America embraced her.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
A sharp, versatile modern pop record, showcasing her voice, to be sure, but being much better than expectations, much better than the scores of flop diva records that cluttered the pop landscape in late 2002.
Read Full Review >E! Online
There is an army of producers, songwriters and guests that make Thankful's mom-approved hip-hop beats and love songs feel as contrived as Clarkson's perfectly placed highlights.
Read Full Review >Launch.com
Thankful is everything an American Idol viewer would expect from a debut album: the musical drama of Meat Loaf, Celine Dion, and the crew from Titanic, the R&B pyrotechnics of Whitney Houston, the (sub)urban melodrama of Mariah Carey and lots and lots of vocal gymnastics. That it all sounds like it came from a can is beside the point.
Read Full Review >Amazon.com
Despite Clarkson's sublime vocal talents, excessive gloss at times overwhelms the quirky charm and personality she displayed on Idol.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
Her high notes are sweet and pillowy, her growl is bone-shaking and sexy, and her midrange is amazingly confident for a pop posy whose career is tied for eternity to the whims of her American Idol overlords.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
This debut has her trilling like Mariah Carey on fluffy R&B tunes. [Oct 2003, p.103]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 39 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Cat gave it a0:
Big time crap! This girl is very overrated and this album proves my point.
J F gave it a5:
meh. some nice songs. great vocals (even if they are over the top at times)
Jason C gave it a7:
This is a decent album, but not really anything new or ground breaking. Why in the hell did Q magazine give this album a 20? lol! 20! It's not that bad even if you listen to it backwards.
Luis G gave it a7:
...clarkson has a powerful voice ......which unfortunately fills a stellar producer album which are so focused on making hits they sell her short....the album is good not great....BREAKWAY is very much closer to where she belongs.....THANKFUL is play it safe territory ....why do records execs think they know everything....its called timing and persona.....and well clarkson is so freakin adorable and well those chops arent a drawback either.....
Andy H gave it a10:
A superb album that shouldn't be missed by fans of great pop music and/or excellent singing. This is a prodigiously gifted young lady who deserves her success and long may she continue.
J D gave it an8:
Very good album. The standout track is by far 'Just Missed The Train'. Too bad her sophmore effort couldn't be as good as this outstanding album. I hope she returns to this music really soon, because this whole rocker-chick thing isn't workin' dude!
Raghu M gave it a10:
Its a great album and Kelly has proved that she is not another dissapointing prodigy.Miss Independent is the best of all the tracks.The others are nice and cozy.I recommend this to all folks fed up with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
